Organic Farming

Anand Pattern in Organic Farming

"Putting the tools of development in the hands of farmers"
 Plan of Presentation

What is Organic Farming? Status in India, NER

Main learnings from NER
Obejctives of OF scheme
Implementation Strategy
Implementation Components - I, II, III
Organisational Aspects
Coordination issues and Benets
 What is Organic Farming?
Avoids synthetic inputs; incorporates technology with
natural processes; integrates animal husbandry; and
mobilises soil nutrients and nature-based protection
In India including NER, small holdings imply closeness
to sustainable farming except access to broader
markets
Currently, 4.72 mha certied incl. 0.6 mha cultivated
135 varieties exported Rs3300 cr; domestic Rs600 cr.
85000 ha in NER led Sikkim 75%, Naga 14%, Megh 6%
 Main learnings from NER
Small holdings generally
Quality inputs not available
Technologies for production, pest control
Aggregation costs for distributed small
growers
Market access, limited value added facilities
Certication complexities
 Objectives of OF scheme
Mission approach; end to end
Address risks of climate, production, disease,
market
Environmentally sustainable production
Conveniently marketable volumes
Farmer controlled valued-added production
centres
 Implementation Strategy
Contiguous clusters on microwatershed basis
Women farmer focus relevant to NER, Prefer SHG covered areas
Village as operating unit to Federation marketing
Anand pattern of trickle to ood
Integrating technology & local knowledge - farmer-led
Focusing scientists for solutions based on local materials
Continuous assessment of soils; bio-inputs support
Hand-holding in management; subsidies as revolving funds - no
personal freebies;
investment is for improving land productivity and farmer
effectiveness.
 Principal Components - I
Baseline survey, PRA of farmers, Resource appraisal
Soil analysis: 5 items, 13 items, microbial, SH cards issue
Cluster of microwatershed 10-15 ha/ 25 farmers, Group
saves for mutual credit as in SHG
Council of Clusters coterminous to village - 50-150 ha
District Federation of Clusters; 50-200 Councils (2500-
10000 ha) eventually, less as it grows.
Support agencies, resource agencies help district units
set up incl. agronomic packages
 Principal Components - II
Integrated farming systems; focus on 2-4 commercial crops
plus multi/inter/mixed cropping, Animal Husbandry
Farm-level systems conducive to Organic certication
State-level biofertiliser, biopesticide production supplements
Revolving funds for inputs, animal husbandry with Council
Pilots possible for vermicompost - homestead and
community or other innovation
Capacity building: TOT, trainers, farmer trainers, materials;
local language
Convergence of schemes for NRLM, OF, watershed
development, soil testing
 Principal Components - III
Service Centres for equipment hiring at Council,
Federation
Village council collection, aggregation, washing,
grading including for storage as may be required.
Federation level value addition and packing
facility with phasing-out of management support,
produce collection crates
Internal Control Systems geared to certication
Exposure visits, seminars etc
 Organisational Aspects
National: Director and YP, sub staff
Region: Integrate PMUs of NERCORMP, NERLP with PMU for OF
under overall Director, LP and supervision of NEC and DoNER
State: State level Society set up under MOU, Training, Funds,
Support Orgns
District: Manager, Sta under Federation including some costs of
processing, testing, outsourced testing. Activities of area
selection, organisation, training, PRA, surveys, soil testing and
support with sector professionals; convergence.
Arbitration by district Committee headed by Dy Commissioner
Village Council: Secretary part paid; Cluster head honorarium for
documents
 Coordination Issues
Bringing Livelihood schemes together
Uncertainty in elements, hence in costs (vermicompost, SHG
savings may speed fund rotation); Expect total project
investment at Rs 18,000 per ha
Timeliness of convergence will add costs (soil tests, OF, bio-input
production, needs for animal husbandry) but may be small
Availability of seeds will require initial multiplication; hence delay
Ethnic disputes may aect supra Council solidarity
Need for mid-term reviews of components and re-strategising
Contribution by farmers, specic areas by State Govt, rest 100%
programme
 Benets of Programme
Increase in Organic production of commercial crops
Increase in area under commercial organic
production
Greater income realisation by farmers
Farmer led process - less Government, little/no
subsidy; focus on community building with
community level revolving fund
Women empowerment and capacity building
Increased exports, domestic markets of quality value
added products
Thanks